How do I check which service you have and whether downloads are included?

Music downloads require a paid subscription for Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, and YouTube Music. Podcasts are free to download on any service. If you are not sure whether you have a paid music subscription, check Settings → your name → Subscriptions (iPhone) or Google Play → Payments & subscriptions (Android).

How do I download spotify playlists or albums (premium required)?

Open the Spotify app → find a playlist or album → tap the three dots → tap "Download." A download icon appears next to the playlist when all songs are saved. Do this at home on Wi-Fi, not on cellular data.

How do I download apple music songs to your iphone?

Open the Apple Music app → find a song or album → tap the three dots → tap "Add to Library." Then tap the cloud-with-downward-arrow icon next to the song or album to download it. The icon disappears when the download is complete.

How do I download podcasts for free on iphone?

Open the Podcasts app (purple microphone icon) → search for a show → tap the episode → tap the three dots → tap "Download." To get new episodes automatically, tap "Follow" on the show page and turn on "Download New Episodes" in the show settings.

How do I download podcasts for free on spotify?

Open the Spotify app (no paid subscription needed for podcasts) → search for a podcast → open the show page → tap "Follow." Spotify will download new episodes automatically when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi.

How do I confirm the download by looking for the download icon?

Look for a phone icon, green checkmark, or the disappearance of the cloud icon next to a song or episode. This confirms the content is stored on your phone and will play without an internet connection.

How do I test playback in airplane mode before your trip?

Before a long trip, put your phone in Airplane Mode (swipe down from the top of the screen → tap the airplane icon) and try playing your downloaded content. If it plays, you are all set. If it does not, re-download while connected to Wi-Fi and try again.

How to Download Music and Podcasts to Listen Without Wi-Fi — Step-by-Step Guide

Streaming music and podcasts is great when you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection. But when you are on a long car trip, flying on an airplane, visiting a place with poor signal, or trying to avoid using up your cellular data, streaming can cut out or stop entirely.

The solution is to download your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks directly to your phone before you leave home — while you are connected to Wi-Fi. Once downloaded, the audio is stored on your phone itself and plays perfectly even when you have no internet connection at all.

This guide walks you through downloading on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and the free Podcasts app.

---

A quick note about which services allow downloading

Not every music service lets you download for offline listening on a free account. Here is a summary before you start:

| Service | Download available? | Cost | |---|---|---| | Spotify (music) | Premium subscribers only | ~$11/month | | Apple Music | Subscribers only | ~$11/month | | Amazon Music | Prime members get limited selection. Unlimited subscribers get full catalog | Included with Prime (limited) or ~$9/month | | Spotify Podcasts | Free — no subscription needed | Free | | iPhone Podcasts app | Free — no subscription needed | Free | | YouTube Music | Premium subscribers only | ~$11/month |

If you do not have a paid music subscription, the Podcasts section of this guide is completely free.

---

Spotify (music downloads — Premium required)

If you have a Spotify Premium subscription, you can download any playlist or album to your phone.

To download a playlist or album:

1. Open the Spotify app on your phone. 2. Find a playlist or album you want to save. 3. Tap the three dots (the "more" button) next to the playlist or album title. 4. Tap "Download." 5. A small arrow or download icon will appear next to the playlist title when the download is complete.

To download a specific song:

1. Open the song's album or playlist. 2. Tap and hold the song name. 3. Tap "Add to playlist" — add it to a playlist you have already downloaded, and it will download too.

To check how much storage your downloads are using:

1. Tap the gear icon (Settings) in the top right of the Spotify app. 2. Scroll down to "Storage." 3. You can see how much space downloads are taking up, and clear the cache if needed.

Quick Tip:

Before a long trip, download your playlists at home on Wi-Fi. Downloading over cellular data uses a large amount of your monthly data allowance.

---

Apple Music (subscription required)

Apple Music is built into every iPhone. If you subscribe, you can download any song in the Apple Music catalog.

To download a song:

1. Find a song in the Apple Music app. 2. Tap the three dots next to the song. 3. Tap "Add to Library." The song is added to your library. 4. Now look for a small cloud icon with a downward arrow next to the song in your library. Tap it to download the song to your phone. 5. When the download is complete, the cloud icon disappears and the song has a small phone icon instead.

To download an entire album:

1. Open the album in Apple Music. 2. Tap the three dots at the top. 3. Tap "Add to Library." 4. Then tap the cloud-with-arrow icon at the top of the album page to download all songs.

To check your downloads:

Go to the Library tab → tap "Downloaded Music" to see everything stored on your phone.

---

Amazon Music (Prime and Unlimited)

If you have Amazon Prime, you have access to a curated selection of songs you can download. Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers have the full catalog.

To download a song, album, or playlist:

1. Open the Amazon Music app. 2. Find the album, song, or playlist. 3. Tap the three dots next to it. 4. Tap "Download." 5. A checkmark or download indicator appears when it finishes.

---

Podcasts — free, no subscription needed

Podcasts are talk shows, news programs, storytelling series, and interview shows available completely free. Downloading them works on the free Podcasts app on iPhones and through the free version of Spotify.

iPhone Podcasts app (free):

1Open the Podcasts app (purple icon with a microphone).
2Search for a show you like — for example, "NPR News" or "This American Life."
3Tap the show to open it.
4To download a single episode: tap the three dots next to the episode → tap "Download."
5To automatically download new episodes: tap "Follow" at the top of the show page. Then go to the show's settings (three dots → Settings) and turn on "Download New Episodes."

Spotify podcasts (free):

1Open Spotify (no subscription needed for podcasts).
2Search for a podcast in the search bar.
3Tap the show to open it.
4Tap "Follow" at the top of the page. Spotify will automatically download new episodes when you are connected to Wi-Fi.

---

How to tell what is already downloaded

Look for these icons next to songs and episodes:

**Phone or device icon:** Already downloaded and stored on your phone.
**Cloud with arrow icon:** Available in your library but not yet downloaded — tap to download.
**Green download checkmark (Spotify):** Downloaded.

---

Saving your cellular data

Downloading content uses a lot of data. Always download at home on Wi-Fi before leaving. In Spotify, go to Settings → scroll to "Data Saver" and turn it on to reduce data use when streaming on cellular. In Apple Music, go to Settings → Music → and turn off "Use Cellular Data" if you want to block streaming on your cellular plan entirely.

---

Where to find free audiobooks

If you enjoy audiobooks, check out **Libby** (libbyapp.com) — a free app connected to your local library card. You can borrow audiobooks and ebooks and download them to your phone at no cost.

How to Download Music and Podcasts to Listen Without Wi-Fi

Check which service you have and whether downloads are included

Download Spotify playlists or albums (Premium required)

Download Apple Music songs to your iPhone

Download podcasts for free on iPhone

Download podcasts for free on Spotify

Confirm the download by looking for the download icon

Test playback in Airplane Mode before your trip